Manhattan football fell to Junction City on Friday 29-36 after their home opener win against Garden City the Friday night before 21-7. 

“It’s been an unusual year,” head coach Joe Schartz said. “Summer programs have been different, and it [was] quite obvious that Garden City and us weren’t as ready as we would’ve been in a normal year. The defense played lights out all night long, they hung in there and came up with a big turnover [there at the end], when [Garden City] had the chance to tie up the ballgame.”

Garden City punched the ball into the endzone late in the first half, but besides that, the Indians defense didn’t allow anything. They forced a huge fumble in the first half and another big interception in the second.

After the win, the Indians traveled to Junction City and looked to keep the Silver Trophy in Manhattan but came up just short to the Blue Jays, falling 29-36.

“It was definitely disappointing,” senior Mason Reid said. “We made some little mistakes throughout the game that cost us. We made [Junction City] fight for it and our effort was good throughout the game.”

The Silver Trophy Game is probably the most anticipated matchup of the season for the Indians. Four out of the last five years, the game has been decided by single digits, and this year was no different.

After the Topeka school district announced their schools will not be allowed to play football yet, the Tribe found an opponent in Hayden High away this Friday. The players are trying to keep up their momentum, despite concerns about COVID-19 shutting down the season.

“We have to take it one game at a time,” Reid said. “This week we have the opportunity to turn it around and take it to Hayden. We have to enjoy playing while we can.”